Memoirs Books

Book SynopsisFor the past fifty years, Monday afternoons in New Haven have always been the same: Roz, Rhoda, Bea, Jackie and Bette - the Bridge Ladies. A card table with four folding chairs (and one dummy seat). A plate of homemade cookies or brownies on the kitchen counter somewhere, largely untouched. And once they begin the game, hours of silence, punctuated only by the sound of cards being plucked up or snapped down. As a child, Betsy Lerner thought the Bridge Ladies were fascinatingly chic, with their frosted hair-dos and shiny nylons. To the teenage Betsy, they seemed hopelessly square. As an adult, working in New York City, they were a relic of her past. But when her husband accepted a job in New Haven, she found herself right back where she started.Suddenly, the Bridge Ladies came hurtling back, their Monday lunch and Bridge Club still ongoing. They had accepted their lot in life and were, mostly, grateful. They didn't talk about their problems, much less those inTrade ReviewThrough the alchemy of a grand game, Betsy Lerner has woven a universal coming of age story for both mother and daughter. A poignant, humorous and often painful struggle through the pageantry of playing cards; a woman's face on every one. -- Patti Smith, author of Just Kids and M TrainThis is the best book about mothers and daughters I've read in decades, maybe ever. I just loved it, related to it viscerally, kept calling up my daughters to read passages aloud to them. It's about - in addition to bridge of course - mother-daughter conflict, the desire to love and be loved, aging and loss, discovery and renewal. Betsy Lerner is a beautiful, achingly honest writer, and The Bridge Ladies is at once heartbreaking and hilarious, uplifting and profound -- Amy Chua, Yale Law Professor and author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and The Triple PackageThe Bridge Ladies reminded me of Tuesdays With Morrie, except that it takes place on Mondays and it has five Morries. In this exquisitely written book, there's humor, candor, no-nonsense wisdom - and portraits of five women whose like we won't see again. I devoured it in one greedy sitting, and started re-reading as soon as I finished. -- Will Schwalbe, author of The End of Your Life Book ClubBetsy Lerner's ladies--her Rozs and Rhodas, Bettes, Beas and Jackies--are our ladies, our mothers, grandmothers, and aunts. Betsy's ladies survived broken dreams, social change and families who didn't always stop to understand them, but as they cooked, cleaned and helped put the greatness in the greatest generation with their strength and spirit. Betsy Lerner takes us back to their tables, capturing her own complicated relationship with her mom and etching an entertaining portrait of a group of wonderful American women, growing older now and braving new battles, with sweetness, humor and sharp perceptiveness. This is a book with heart and feeling. -- George Hodgman, author of BettyvilleThe Bridge Ladies is a funny, tender, sometimes sad account that is often painful but always honest. * Jewish Chronicle *[Betsy's] laughter-filled memoir of rediscovery and reconciliation is a delicious delight. * Saga *Highly distinctive . . . a thoughtful, affectionate study. -- Ysenda Maxtone-Graham * Spectator *The Golden Girls meets The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants for a game of bridge and a plate of fishballs. I loved this memoir about a mother and daughter putting their differences aside -- Sara Manning * Red *In the end what we want from our mothers - and what they want from us - is acceptance. "Our mothers have been always trying to fix us, which has given us the message that we're not OK," says Betsy Lerner. Meanwhile, we daughters have been trying to fix them. Betsy's book says, stop trying to fix one another. You're both OK as you are. -- Joanna Moorhead * Guardian *Heart-warming * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisIn June of 1961, A.E. Hotchner visited an old friend in the psychiatric ward of St. Mary's Hospital. It would be the last time they spoke--a few weeks later, Ernest Hemingway was released home, where he took his own life. Their final conversation was also the final installment in a story whose telling Hemingway had spread over more than a decade.In characteristically pragmatic terms, Hemingway revealed to Hotchner the details of the affair that destroyed his first marriage: the truth of his romantic life in Paris and how he lost Hadley, the true part of each literary woman he'd later create and the great love he spent the rest of his life seeking. And he told of the mischief that made him a legend: of impotence cured in a house of God; of a plane crash in the African bush, from which Hemingway stumbled with a bunch of bananas and a bottle of gin in hand; of F. Scott Fitzgerald dispensing romantic advice and champagne in the buff with Josephine Baker; of adventure, human Trade ReviewIn this piercingly intimate new volume, A. E. Hotchner plumbs the depths of Hemingway's most poignant realizations and regrets - not just whom he loved and ultimately lost, but the very nature of his heart. A tender and devastating portrait...and one I will personally treasure -- Paula McLain, author of The Paris WifeA. E. Hotchner is a natural storyteller, and it has been our good fortune that among his friends and acquaintances are bullfighters, glamorous women, talented actors, painters, poets, and interesting poseurs - people who attract and enlighten readers. Hemingway in Love is the crowning achievement in Hotchner's lifetime study of Hemingway, and I admire it immensely -- Gay TaleseThe first complete understanding of the writer as a man...an important book -- Library Journal (starred review)A portrait of triumphant highs, melancholic lows, and the pervading tone of the subject's generation-a human being's love lost -- Publishers WeeklyHotchner tells an engaging and harrowing story. . .offers us something of a 'behind the scenes' glimpse at how Hemingway was processing his past, and dealing with the lingering trauma of regret, physical pain, and his deteriorating creative ability. . .The final years of Hemingway's life have never been told with such eloquence and compassion * PopMatters *A. E. Hotchner's Hemingway in Love is a poignant postscript to A Moveable Feast. . .a book of elegiac charm * BookPage *

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Book SynopsisEveryone has a story to tell. Sharing that story can change you, your community, or even the world. But how do you start?Discover the tools to unlock your truth and share it with the world: Storytelling coaches Heather Box and Julian Mocine-McQueen reveal how to embrace the power of personal storytelling in a series of easy steps. You''ll learn how to share your experiences and invaluable knowledge with the people who need it most, whether it be in a blog post, a motivational speech, or just a conversation with a loved one. How Your Story Sets You Free is the path to finding the spark that ignites the fire and reminds you just how much your story matters.• Features over 100 pages of practical and motivating advice, including quotes from renowned storytellers including Maya Angelou and Marshall Ganz.• Includes specific step-by-step instructions to help you find the words to tell your story in the most powerful and impactful way.&bul

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Book SynopsisHilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction 2022 ShortlistedA neurotic party girl''s coming-of-age memoir about learning to live before getting ready to die. Tara has it pretty good: a nice job, a writing career, a forgiving boyfriend. She should be happy. Yet Tara can't stay sober. She's terrible at monogamy. Even her psychiatrist grows sick of her and stops returning her calls. She spends most of her time putting out social fires, barely pulling things off, and feeling sick and tired.Then, in the autumn following her twenty-seventh birthday, an abnormal lump discovered in her left breast serves as the catalyst for a journey of rigorous self-questioning. Waiting on a diagnosis, she begins an intellectual assessment of her life, desperate to justify a short existence full of dumb choices. Armed with her philosophy degree and angry determination, she attacks each issue in her life as the days creep by and winds up writing a searingly hoTrade ReviewThis delightful book, appropriately enough, works like your favourite mixtape. It's got everything you want, and somehow it all fits. The arrangement is unexpected but, in retrospect, seems obviously right. Here is softness and pain, intimacy and revulsion, flourishing and sickness. And McGowan-Ross just sounds so good. * Sasha Chapin, author of All The Wrong Moves *Tara McGowan-Ross is an unpretentious poet and philosopher weaving together meaning from the pain, grief, heartache, as well as simple joy of being alive. Nothing Will Be Different is a meditation on amor fati: the love of fate, the love of what is. By being with all of it: trauma, profound loss, the reality of death, addiction, precarity, the gig economy, hard work, love both dizzying and secure, sex, and insatiable desire, Tara shows us that transformation comes not through a battle against what is, but from the willingness to be changed by it. * Clementine Morrigan, author of Love Without Emergency *This book is a must read if you want to know what it's like growing up Millennial and urban in Canada (it follows her from Toronto, to Halifax, to the tree planting cut-blocks of British Columbia and to Montreal where McGowan-Ross now lives). -- Rita LeistnerThe memoir is honest and raw, but also deeply funny in its portrayal of grief, mental illness and addiction. * Maisonneuve Magazine *Tara McGowan-Ross unravels history and present in raw, unflinching prose that is at once funny, heartbreaking, and lyrical. A coming-of-age reflection that is searing in its honesty, energy, and depth, McGowan-Ross treads difficult topics such as death, loss, addiction, and grief with wryness, wit, and depth. * juror comments for Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize *

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Book Synopsis‘Entertaining and refreshingly introspective’ Times Literary Supplement 'They were like balloons that had escaped a child's grasp - pointlessly floating. 'Focus!' I would plead with my mother. And my father was forever being diverted.' Allow us to introduce you to the Rips family: Michael, Sheila and daughter Nicolaia, the last denizens of New York's famous Chelsea Hotel. Better yet, allow Nicolaia to introduce them since it's her earnest, wry, occasionally wicked, but always affectionate observations that you'll find in her memoir, Trying to Float. Not only a coming-of-age story set in an enigmatic New York landmark, this is also the clever love story of a family, navigating the curiosities of their home.  Trade Review‘Nicolaia Rips writes with wit, discipline and grace. Her voice is real’ -- Ethan Hawke‘Trying to Float is hysterically droll, touching, elegant, and wise ­– a coming-of-age story from someone who possibly came of age before her parents. Truly Nicolaia’s chronicle is sui generis’ -- Patricia Marx, author of Let’s Be Less Stupid and Him Her Him Again The End of Him‘These little tales about little rascals in New York City are charming, strange, and inspiring. What a very funny, improbably truthful book about childhood this is’ -- Joseph O’Neill, author of Netherland and The Dog‘I love this book! Nicolaia Rips, while young, is the real thing, Wodehouse reborn in a young girl. He would have been charmed’ -- Joel Gray, author of Master of Ceremonies

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In early 2009 a strange sort of business plan landed on the desk of a pinstriped bank manager. It had pictures of rats and moles in rowing boats and archaic quotes about Cleopatra's barge. It asked for a £30,000 loan to buy a black-and-cream narrowboat and a small hoard of books. The manager said no. Nevertheless The Book Barge opened six months later and enjoyed the happy patronage of local readers, a growing number of eccentrics and the odd moorhen.Business wasn't always easy, so one May morning owner Sarah Henshaw set off for six months chugging the length and breadth of the country. Books were bartered for food, accommodation, bathroom facilities and cake. During the journey, the barge suffered a flooded engine, went out to sea, got banned from Bristol and, on several occasions, floated away altogether. This account follows the ebbs and flows of Sarah's journey as she sought to make her vision of a floating bookshop a reality.

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Book SynopsisThe second title in the Minack Chronicles, this tells in more detail the story of Derek and Jeannie''s beloved ginger cat Monty. From the first moment Derek, who was not until then a cat-lover, met a tiny bundle of fur with Jeannie, through to the pet''s old age when he would still walk down to the stream to make ''Monty''s Leap'', this is a touching story of friendship between two people and their cat.

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Book SynopsisThe fourth title in the Minack Chronicles tells the story of how Derek and Jeannie acquired two donkeys, Penny and Fred. From the first steps and learning all about donkey foibles, through to picnics in the meadows, this is a further charming instalment in the tales of the Tangye''s life at Minack.

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Book Synopsis''Pink is my favourite colour. I used to say my favourite colour was black to be cool, but it is pink all shades of pink. If I have an accessory, it is probably pink. I read Vogue, and I'm not doing it ironically, though it might seem that way. I once live-tweeted the September issue.''In these funny and insightful essays, Roxane Gay takes us through the journey of her evolution as a woman (Sweet Valley High) of colour (The Help) while also taking readers on a ride through culture of the last few years (Girls, Django in Chains) and commenting on the state of feminism today (abortion, Chris Brown). The portrait that emerges is not only one of an incredibly insightful woman continually growing to understand herself and our society, but also one of our culture.Bad Feminist is a sharp, funny and sincere look at the ways in which the culture we consume becomes who we are, and an inspiring call-to-arms of all the ways we sTrade ReviewA strikingly fresh cultural critic. -- Ron Charles * Washington Post *Roxane Gay is so great at weaving the intimate and personal with what is most bewildering and upsetting at this moment in culture. She is always looking, always thinking, always passionate, always careful, always right there. -- Sheila Heti, author of How Should a Person Be?Gay is my favourite current writer. -- Jessica Valenti * Guardian *Let this be the year of Roxane Gay. * Time Magazine *Roxane is a powerhouse of a writer. She's really punk in her approach and her book Bad Feminist has liberated a lot of women by making it clear you can be a conflicted, complicated woman and still identify with feminism. -- Lena DunhamSmart readers cannot afford to miss these essays, which range from socially significant art (Girls, Django in Chains) and feminist issues (abortion) to politics (Chris Brown) and why Gay likes pink. * Library Journal *As Bad Feminist proves, Gay is a necessary and brave voice when it comes to figuring out all the crazy mixed messages in our mixed-up world. -- ‘20 New Nonfiction Books That Will Make You Smarter’ * Flavorwire *I just read Roxane Gay's Bad Feminist in one plane ride. It's brilliant. I am deeply grateful for it. Please read this book. -- Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) via TwitterOne of our sharpest new culture critics plants her flag in topics ranging from trigger warnings to Orange is the New Black in this timely collection of essays. * O, the Oprah Magazine *Refreshing . . . [Gay's] greatest gift as a writer is energy, enthusiasm - sheer gusto. She loves bad television, and enjoys terrible films, and is overjoyed by an unexpected triple word score. Her writing feels alive. You might not always agree with her, but you are always interested to know what she thinks. -- Helen Lewis * New Statesman *Roxane Gay applies her discerning eye to everything from Paula Deen to The Batchelor. * Marie Claire *Gay's essays are consistently smart and provocative. * USA Today *Alternately friendly and provocative, wry and serious, her takes on everything from Girls to Fifty Shades of Grey help to recontextualize what feminism is--and what it can be. * Time Out (New York) *Gay's essays expertly weld her personal experiences with broader gender trends occurring politically and in popular culture. * Huffington Post *What makes Bad Feminist such a good read isn't only Gay's ability to deftly weave razor-sharp pop cultural analysis and criticism with a voice that is both intimate and relatable. It's that she's incapable of blindly accepting any kind of orthodoxy. * San Francisco Chronicle *Roxane Gay is the brilliant girl-next-door: your best friend and your sharpest critic . . . She is by turns provocative, chilling, hilarious; she is also required reading. * People *An assortment of comical, yet astute essays that touch on Gay's personal evolution as a woman, popular culture throughout the recent past, and the state of feminism today. * Harper's Bazaar *Fascinating . . . An important and pioneering contemporary writer . . . Readers will immediately understand the appeal of Gay's intimate and down-to-earth voice . . . An important contribution to the complicated terrain of gender politics. * Boston Globe *I know there are still four and a half months left, but I'm calling it now: 2014 is the year of Roxane Gay. I just devoured her book, Bad Feminist . . . Amazing. * Rookie *A thoughtful and often hilarious new collection of essays. * Chicago Tribune *If you read one book this month, let it be this gem by Roxane Gay . . . Tackling topics as varied as racial privilege, Chris Brown, feminism, Fifty Shades of Grey and Trayvon Martin in her typically spot-on and engaging style. This is a book all your girlfriends will want to borrow. * Pride *

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Book Synopsis''Excellent . . . an in-depth excavation of the murky and mysterious world of football business. Smith''s candid and often shocking book reveals the true workings of football business that take into account things few of us even could even imagine . . . The Deal answers some of those questions and leaves you wanting more. It is an educational tool that most fans could do with researching'' Joe Short, ExpressFootball analysis has grown at the same exponential rate as the sport''s popularity and yet one of its most intrinsic elements remains tantalisingly opaque: the role of ''agent''. The Deal is a unique and fascinating perspective into the business of sports management through the eyes of ''Mr Football'', ''super-agent'', Jon Smith. 800,000 watch their professional football team play each week and TV pulls in audiences of around 600 million. Despite these phenomenal figures, the complex money-making scene behind sport is one of its biggest mysteries. Trade ReviewA book which shines a light on a much discussed though little understood aspect of the football business ... A rare insight -- Ian Herbert The IndependentJon Smith's The Deal is the page turner of 2016, the most fascinating behind-the-scenes account of football I have read ...Excellent ... an in-depth excavation of the murky and mysterious world of football business. Smith's candid and often shocking book reveals the true workings of football business that take into account things few of us even could even imagine ... The Deal answers some of those questions and leaves you wanting more. It is an educational tool that most fans could do with researching -- Joe Short ExpressJon Smith knows the business of football like no one else * GQ *An innovator within his field * Jewish Chronicle *A fascinating insight * footballfancast.com *This insightful expose ... will impress any serious fans of the beautiful game * Heat *

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Book Synopsis''Harry Leslie Smith is a vital and powerful voice speaking across generations about the struggle for a just society'' Jeremy CorbynTHIS A CALL TO ARMS FOR THE MANY, NOT THE FEW: DON''T LET THE PAST BECOME OUR FUTUREHarry Leslie Smith is a great British stalwart. A survivor of the Great Depression, a Second World War veteran, a lifelong Labour supporter and a proud Yorkshire man, Harry''s life has straddled two centuries. As a young man, he witnessed a country in crisis with no healthcare, no relief for the poor, and a huge economic gulf between the North and South. Now in his nineties, Harry wanders through the streets of his youth and wonders whether anything has actually changed.Britain is at its most dangerous juncture since Harry''s youth - the NHS and social housing are in crisis, whilst Brexit and an unpopular government continue to divide the country - but there is hope. Just as Clement Attlee provided hope in 1945, Labour''s triumphant Trade ReviewThis is a heartfelt, important work which stands both as a fine memoir and a warning to those who have not experienced first-hand the dark and difficult times that shaped the life of author. Harry Leslie Smith is deeply articulate, his words are moving and powerful, and his voice is authentic and sincere. Everyone under 95 should take heed! * Joanne Harris *This is a wonderful book and a timely reminder that so much of the progress we take for granted came not from the benevolence of the great and good, but from the collective struggles of previous generations of working people. At a time when the need for decent jobs, homes, rights and services is more pressing than ever, Don't Let My Past Be Your Future is a must read for trade unionists, campaigners and everyone on the left. * Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, Trades Union Congress *History, they say, is written by the winners. Harry is a winner. He defied the odds and poor health to beat poverty and inequality to live a long and full life. He has been a tremendous public servant to this country, and his relentless spirit spills from these pages ensuring his service to us all will survive to benefit future generations . . . Don't dismiss these as the dreams of an old man. Harry is our own 'a living bridge' to history. Read this book, cross this bridge. Take a long, good look at what you see on the other side. We must do better than be destined to repeat our history as tragedy. * Len McCluskey, General Secretary, Unite *I dipped into the book and then I kept on reading - it's a beautiful, wise and righteous piece of work and truly generous to the coming generation * A.L. Kennedy *Told with passion and eloquence, Mr Smith's personal story of growing up in a time without social services is a stark reminder of how close we may be (in the UK and the US) to consigning millions of people to a life of abject misery for no other reason than they were born poor. * Gale Anne Hurd, producer of The Walking Dead *This is a powerful and deeply moving personal memoir of a Dickensian-like childhood shaped by hunger, suffering and family despair in pre-war Britain. As today's world drifts back towards the extreme inequality that marked Harry Leslie Smith's childhood, we would be crazy to ignore his stirring call-to-arms in defence of the welfare state. * Linda McQuaig *With eloquence, passion and insight that can only come from lived experience, Harry Leslie Smith once again holds up a mirror to contemporary Britain and the hazardous path it is currently on.By reminding us so vividly of the recent past and shining a light on present perils this book is an urgent warning flare against a gathering storm of far-right ideology and the collective scourges of austerity, inequality and Brexit. Most importantly of all though, it exhorts us to do something now or pay the price for complacency in the face of such threats. Please read - and give it to those you care about to read * Mary O'Hara *Through reading Harry's words, I feel as if I am walking the bridge between his generation and my own. His experiences as a child in the Great Depression highlight the dangerous times we now live in - in which the destruction of the NHS and welfare state risk dragging us back to a Britain of the 1930s. Harry's work to defend and champion our public services is something I am endlessly grateful for. He is an inspiration * Emily Berrington *Harry has lived through the Great Depression, World War 2, and has borne witness to many of our world's greatest economic, social and cultural conflicts. He's an ordinary man, who has lived through extraordinary times, and brings his experiences of life forward with breath-taking lucidity and ability. His words are not a reflection on history, but a warning that history may be about to repeat itself. A brilliant book, by a brilliant man * Professor Vikas S. Shah, FRSA *If you truly want to comprehend the dangerous place in which we find ourselves today, social, economic and political and how we came to be in this mess, look no further then Harry Leslie Smiths extraordinary new book Don't Let My Past Be Your Future. Never have the words of this great man been of more relevance, not just to you and I but to our children and our children's children. At times Harry's book will make you angry; it will make you cry; but ultimately it will fill you with the desire to rise up against injustice and what a testament that is to the words of this incredible man * Peter Stefanovic, lawyer, blogger *Harry Leslie Smith's bravery and honesty are irreproachable, and his timely, lucid and often harrowing memoir is the perfect antidote to the schmaltzy, romanticised British history we've been force fed by the media. It serves as a chilling warning to my generation of the dangers of repeating the mistakes of British and European history. The heroes here aren't generals or politicians but the working-class men and women who struggled against hypocrisy, war and the overhanging threat of injury, disease and homelessness to achieve a tolerable life. Nothing is romanticised. Smith is candid about the machismo and mistreatment of women, not least his mum, in coal mining communities. But he never lets us forget the hidden injuries of class, the shame and stigma that comes with poverty, or the sense of hope that led people to build the welfare state. For readers today, this book is much more than a personal account of how ordinary men and (especially) women achieved dignity in history. It's a wakeup call for a society that seems intent on giving this dignity away, voting for cuts one day and retreating behind right-wing demagogues the next. It's a must-read rejoinder to Britain's patriotic myths of the Second World War that never goes soft on fascism. And it shows the heroic things that downtrodden people achieve when they put aside their differences and unite in struggle. In his ninety-four years, Smith has never faltered from his commitment to truth and international justice. This autobiography ensures that people of all generations can learn from his amazing life * Cat Boyd, co-founder of the Radical Independence Campaign and the Scottish Left Project *Harrowing with a moving message * Sunday Mirror *Harry and I were born 50 years apart, in the same town, to the same stock of hardworking Barnsley miners which is why I jumped at the chance to read his stark warning to our current and forthcoming generations. After enduring a heart breaking struggle, Harry has sought to turn the life of extreme hardship he endured into something positive and this book is exactly that. Holding up a mirror between then and now, it deftly compares our current existence with the one our ancestors trod and horrifically we are not a million miles away from each other. This is our chance to momentarily walk in the footsteps of those who trod before us and prevent the repetition that history so eagerly desires.Coming from a genuine position of concern, this is an incredibly important book written by one of the last remaining voices of those times. It should be studied and its message heeded because, if we ignore Harry's past, our future may well return to those dark days. * Shaun Dooley *Anyone not persuaded of the risks of believing the siren voices of selfishness and intolerance should read Harry Leslie Smith's book -- Tim Fenton * Zelo Street blog *Through reflecting on his own experiences during his childhood, Harry Leslie Smith has painted a frank and uncompromising picture of the grim, appallingly miserable childhood he had to endure due to the poverty faced by his family contrasted with the, shamefully still, grim and miserable lives many people endure today in a country ravaged by cuts, austerity and political turmoil . . . The strength of Smith's work is in his deftly woven narrative which features examples from his past, contrasted with the experiences of those living in poverty today, effectively highlighting how far we have sunk back into the cesspit of greed and injustice. It is also a testament to Smith that he manages to uplift as well as horrify the reader, particularly when discussing his own route out of the wretchedness of his situation * The Book Bag *Wonderful, impassioned . . . important * Rick O'Shea *In his winter years, Smith has lost none of his righteous passion, nor his knack for vivid prose * New Statesman *Utterly compelling . . . measured but unflinching . . . the clear-sighted power of his writing is something that all of us should pay heed to and its call is one we must answer * Unison *There is not a life away from poverty once you've known it. The nicest sweets will always leave you with the shadow of hunger as an aftertaste. In this book, Harry Leslie Smith has remembered the Britain of his youth, and it's a cautionary tale. Without safety nets, people die, and poverty's few survivors always bear lifelong scars. There are few thinking-men I respect more in the world than Harry, and in clear prose he explains poverty's brutality, sparing himself nothing, so that the rest of us might learn something from his pain. The man is in his nineties and reading this book is like watching him turn austerity's boosters over his knee like naughty children; it's well worth your time. I am grateful to have been able to read this book. * Linda Tirando, anti-poverty activist *Powerfully written . . . with a passion and poignancy still all too rare in our body politic * Open Democracy *

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Book Synopsis''Paling''s deftly drawn vignettes are frequently funny, sometimes sad and occasionally troubling . . . Borrow a copy from your local library, if you still have one. Better yet, buy it'' Neil Armstrong, Mail on Sunday''Not only was I captivated by Paling''s lovingly wrought series of pen portraits, I was amused, moved and - perhaps most surprising of all - uplifted'' John Preston, Daily Mail''There are many detractors who question whether libraries are still relevant in the digital age. Paling''s keenly and kindly observed account of his encounters offers a gentle insight as to why they still are'' Helen Davies, Sunday TimesChris works as a librarian in a small-town library in the south of England. This is the story of the library, its staff, and the fascinating group of people who use the library on a regular basis. We''ll meet characters like the street-sleepers Brewer, Wolf and Spencer, who are always the fTrade ReviewPaling's deftly drawn vignettes are frequently funny, sometimes sad and occasionally troubling . . . Borrow a copy from your local library, if you still have one. Better yet, buy it -- Neil Armstrong * Mail on Sunday *Not only was I captivated by Paling's lovingly wrought series of pen portraits, I was amused, moved and - perhaps most surprising of all - uplifted -- John Preston * Daily Mail *There are many detractors who question whether libraries are still relevant in the digital age. Paling's keenly and kindly observed account of his encounters offers a gentle insight as to why they still are -- Helen Davies * Sunday Times *Restorative, gently British feel of these pages . . . It's fun, it's breezy . . . and it's full of Great British Quirk. It made me feel at home, and I recommend it strongly * The Book Bag *Much of the dialogue is worthy of Alan Bennett -- Mark Mason * Spectator *Paling's unflashy, plain-speaking and observant style is engaging -- Rosemary Goring * Sunday Herald *Paling is an observant writer, with a brilliant ear for dialogue, and he sketches the eccentric cast of employees and customers perfectly. Although there is humour here, there is also pathos, as the library dwindles to become the haunt of the elderly and the homeless - a snapshot of people and institutions on the margins of the digital age, a poignant record of the unconnected life -- Chris Nancollas * Tablet *Minutely observed cast . . . It is pinpoint-specific, as personal as a fingerprint or a reading record . . . The characters here lift these interlinked vignettes into something altogether richer -- Imogen Russell Williams * Times Literary Supplement *Reading Allowed is a must for bibliophiles and those with a curiosity to understand exactly what goes on in that building that you might visit, or indeed that building that you walk past everyday * Rebel Voice *

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Book Synopsis''A superb book about the tribalism gripping British politics. Tribes is measured, searching, pitilessly self-scrutinising and would probably amaze anyone who knows its author only from his Twitter persona'' Decca Aitkenhead, Sunday TimesDavid was the first black Briton to study at Harvard Law School and practised as a barrister before entering politics. He has served as the Member of Parliament for Tottenham since 2000. Today, David is one of Parliament''s most prominent and successful campaigners for social justice. He led the campaign for Windrush British citizens to be granted British citizenship and has been at the forefront of the fight for justice for the families affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.In 2007, inspired by the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act and looking to explore his own African roots, David Lammy took a DNA test. Ostensibly he was a middle-aged husband & father, MP for Tottenham and a die-hard Spurs fan.Trade ReviewLammy writes with nuance and sensitivity and accepts the lack of easy answers. But his core message is simple. We must cooperate more, compromise more, communicate more. Only connect, but offline * Prospect *A superb book about the tribalism gripping British politics. Tribes is measured, searching, pitilessly self-scrutinising and would probably amaze anyone who knows its author only from his Twitter persona * Sunday Times *Episodes of memoir, including DNA tests, a police frisking and a death threat, enliven the Labour MP's first-rate study of social division * Guardian *It is rich, in thought, history, anecdote and experience * The New European *The best section of the book is a sympathetic account of why people voted Brexit from a zealous Remainer MP who insists Brexit is driven by xenophobia * Evening Standard *Tribes examines how to bring together a fractious country without smothering legitimate political grievances in the process * Guardian *Absorbing analysis . . . thoughtful, nuanced book . . . this book asks the right questions * Observer *Blends memoir with shrewd analysis of the current political landscape . . . He interrogates subjects suchas polarisation, tribalism and identity politics with aplomb, bringing in voices from opposing backgroundsand views . . . The most powerful parts of the book, though, are the explorations of his own compulsion to belong * The Independent *A vital contribution to the political debate * New Statesman *Ambitious . . . [this book] helps us understand aspects of tribalism * Financial Times *Navigating diverse cultures taught him to appreciate different perspectives, and makes him an incisive diagnostician of our familiar ills - economic decline, political polarisation and terrible loneliness. But Lammy also has inspiring ideas for putting things right * East Anglian Daily Times *A fascinating and thought-provoking reflective journey across cultures, centuries and continents. This bookwill become a classic and an important tool for anyone studying social and political history and the rapidly changing dynamics of tribalism -- Floella Benjamin * The House Magazine *Compelling reading for understanding the rich lifeblood of our incredible shared city and the forces which shape us * Big Issue *

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Book SynopsisSomething extraordinary happened to the UK literary scene in the 1980s. In the space of eight years, a generation of young British writers took the literary novel into new realms of setting, subject matter and style, challenging - and almost eclipsing - the Establishment writers of the 1950s. It began with two names - Martin Amis and Ian McEwan - and became a flood: Julian Barnes, William Boyd, Graham Swift, Salman Rushdie, Jeanette Winterson and Pat Barker among them. The rise of the newcomers coincided with astonishing changes in the way books were published - and the ways in which readers bought them and interacted with their authors. Suddenly, authors of serious fiction were like rock stars, fashionable, sexy creatures, shrewdly marketed and feted in public. The yearly bunfight of the Booker Prize became a matter of keen public interest. Tim Waterstone established the first of a chain of revolutionary bookshops. London publishing houses became the playground of exciting,Trade Review[An] elegant and elegiac memoir . . . the vigour of the book's attack and the hilarity of its anecdotage ... [shows he was] one of the great power-brokers of literary London . . . He was (and is) a good thing and I salute him. -- D. J. Taylor * Literary Review *Very funny . . . I laughed long at the set-piece lunch with [Martin] Amis * Observer *Walsh's enthusiasm for the writing of the 1980s is infectious * Irish Times *This is by no means just a book of literary history, fascinating though much of that is. Walsh also gives us plenty of terrific stories/gossip from those far-off days when newspaper offices were full of typewriter noise and cigarette smoke, and the choice of lunchtime drinks was definitely not restricted to still or sparkling. * Reader's Digest *Through it all, Walsh was there. First as an eager wannabe, then as a full-blooded insider. Any disappointment that his own efforts at a novel didn't prove a ticket to the dream-circus was quickly mitigated once he discovered his potential as a critic, commentator and general facilitator, swishing through the forest as interviewer, literary judge, pundit, speaker, partygoer par excellence . . . An immersive literary history . . . highly readable * Financial Times *Reading John Walsh's adventures in the literary world of the 1980s is like donning a pair of spectacles that bring blurred memories into sudden, sharp focus . . . Walsh describes people, events and places with such accuracy that he will transport oldies back to the era, allowing them to reappraise and appreciate it afresh. His memory - even if dependent on a diary - is prodigious, and his anecdotes polished till they sparkle. * The Oldie *An entertainingly gossipy memoir of the period . . . * The Week *Elegant and entertaining * Critic *[There's a] mixture of high and low, sacred and profane, running through Walsh's account of literary London in the 1980s that makes it such a joy * Sunday Times *Walsh's appetite for celebrity gossip is supplemented by a keen understanding of the business moves behind the invention of these literary stars, while his candour about his own shortcomings is endearing . . . [this] memoir is highly recommended * Irish Examiner *Walsh makes London seem like the place to have been. The stage was smaller; everything burned more brightly; more angels teemed on the head of a pin . . . One of the best things about Circus of Dreams is Walsh's memories not of the big beasts of literature, but of the smaller players - the editors and agents and clubmen and hacks and P.R. people, the various legends in their own lunchtimes. * New York Times *John Walsh's Circus of Dreams sent me reeling nostalgically back to the literary 1980s, where I may remain happily trapped for some time to come * HEAD TOPICS *Alternately fascinating and provocative -- John Sutherland * TLS *Circus of Dreams, the critic and journalist John Walsh's rambunctious and hugely entertaining history of the British literary scene in the 1980s, summons up something of the excitement, and the absurdity, of the period * Spectator World *

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Book Synopsis''Kate Zambreno has invented a new form. It is a kind of absolute present, real life captured in closeup'' Annie Ernaux, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature ''The Light Room is both a gift and a beacon'' Sinéad Gleeson, author of Constellations''Kate Zambreno has performed a miracle, capturing real, lived time from within the exhaustion of pandemic-era parenthood. The Light Room reminded me of that fundamental magic of writing - that the details of another person''s life, so precisely and honestly rendered, can instantly loosen the edges of your own life and make you feel less alone'' Jenny Odell, bestselling author of How to Do NothingIn The Light Room, Zambreno offers her most profound and affecting work yet: a candid chronicle of life as a mother of two young daughters in a moment of profound uncertainty about public health, climate change, and the future we can e

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Book Synopsis''Hurrah for one of our most merciless humorists. Auslander''s prose isn''t just laudable, it''s frightening'' David SedarisFrom the acclaimed author of Foreskin''s Lament, a memoir of the author''s attempt to escape the biblical story he''d been raised on and his struggle to construct a new story for himself and his family.Shalom Auslander was raised like a veal in a dysfunctional family in the Orthodox community of Monsey, New York: the son of an alcoholic father; a guilt-wielding mother; and a violent, overbearing God. Now, as he reaches middle age, Auslander begins to suspect that what plagues him is something worse, something he can''t so easily escape: a story. The story. One indelibly implanted in him at an early age, a story that told him he is fallen, broken, shameful, disgusting, a story we have all been told for thousands of years, and continue to be told by the religious and secular alike, a story called Feh.Yiddish for

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Book SynopsisA hilarious, confrontational and moving story of one woman''s attempts to navigate her way through the challenges of mid-life, for lovers of HOW TO BE A WOMAN and I''M NOT WITH THE BAND. ''Claire Dederer is not only a brilliant author, but an honest and brave one'' Elizabeth Gilbert, author of EAT, PRAY, LOVEClaire Dederer''s youth was wild, an endless cascade of beer and rock and acid and sex that left her benumbed and adrift. But then, after two decades of disciplined transformation, she''d become a successful writer, a faithful wife, and a mother - a real adult. That is, until one morning at 44, she found herself overcome by the same sexual cravings and ineffable sadness of her younger years. The hedonistic girl, ''that crazy bitch'', was back - or had she never left?Frank and disarming, seductive and hilarious, Love and Trouble: A Mid-life Reckoning is Dederer''s attempt to reckon with those urges, and to reconcile the girl she''d been with the womaTrade ReviewBitingly funny and provocative * People Magazine *Frank and compelling * Evening Standard *Claire Dederer has written what is surely one of the most excruciatingly frank memoirs ever - raw, revealing and explicit... I read Love and Trouble compulsively, at once fascinated and repulsed * Observer *

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Book SynopsisThe new hilarious and inspirational memoir from Sunday Times no. 1 bestselling author Bryony Gordon.''A courageous account that will inspire us all - bloody brilliant'' Fearne Cotton''An honest and damn funny book about daring to dream, about chafing and Vaseline, and running through the pain. I raced through it without getting a stitch'' Matt Haig''The woman who made talking about your thinking not just acceptable but imperative'' Daily TelegraphBryony Gordon was not a runner. A loafer, a dawdler, a drinker, a smoker, yes. A runner, no. But, as she recovered from the emotional rollercoaster of opening up her life in her mental health memoir MAD GIRL, she realised that there were things that might actually help her: getting outside, moving her body and talking to others who found life occasionally challenging. As she ran, she started to shake off the limitations that had always held her baTrade ReviewA courageous account that will inspire us all - bloody brilliant. * Fearne Cotton *An honest and damn funny book about daring to dream, about chafing and Vaseline, and running through the pain. I raced through it without getting a stitch. * Matt Haig *

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Book SynopsisBob Shepton is an ordained minister in the Church of England in his late 70s, but spends most of his time sailing into the Arctic and making first ascents of inaccessible mountains. No tea parties for this vicar.Opening with the disastrous fire that destroyed his yacht whilst he was ice-bound in Greenland, the book travels back to his childhood growing up on the rubber plantation his father managed in Malaysia, moving back to England after his father was shot by the Japanese during the war, boarding school, the Royal Marines, and the church. We then follow Bob as he sails around the world with a group of schoolboys, is dismasted off the Falklands, trapped in ice, and climbs mountains accessible only from iceberg-strewn water and with only sketchy maps available. Bob Shepton, winner of the 2013 Yachtsman of the Year Award, is an old-school adventurer, and this compelling book is in the spirit of sailing mountaineer HW Tilman, explorer Ranulph Fiennes, climber Chris Bonington and yachtsTrade ReviewAn entertaining story told by a genuine adventurer * Sailing Today *You are going to enjoy this: a life, of adventure - surviving the war years on the far side of the world, sailing, climbing, ski mountaineering, in many different parts of the world. It is inspiring that a Reverend should stick his neck out in this way - battling Atlantic storms, losing a mast in Antarctica, sailing continually in the Arctic, making the first ascents of mountains, skiing across remote regions, climbing with world class climbers, and sailing through the North West Passage. As a Commando, Bob is clearly made of the right stuff! -- Bear GryllsHis expeditions have made over sixty first ascents of mountains and rock faces…all previously unclimbed, and he has been called ‘the modern Tilman’. All this as well as being, and often in conjunction with being, a Reverend. It’s an interesting and varied life; I commend it to you. -- Sir Chris Bonington * Foreword *This is the uniquely interesting and colourful life of a Anglican clergyman turned adventurer. A wonderful true tale of adventure with a wide variety of people of all ages, in different parts of the world and over many years, stretching from the days of the British Empire to the present. A truly interesting book, which I definitely recommend. -- Sir Ranulph Fiennes * Foreword *

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Book SynopsisThese days, swimming may seem like the most egalitarian of pastimes, open to anyone with a swimsuit--but this wasn''t always the case. In the 19th century, swimming was exclusively the domain of men, and access to pools was a luxury limited by class. Women were (barely) allowed to swim in the sea, as long as no men were around, but even into the 20th century they could be arrested and fined if they dared dive into a lake. It wasn''t until the 1930s that women were finally, and reluctantly, granted equal access to the water. This is the story of the women who made that possible, a thank-you to the fearless swimming suffragettes who took on the status quo, fought for equal access, and won. Part social history, part memoir, Swell celebrates some amazing achievements, some ridiculous outfits, and some fantastic swimmers who challenge the stereotypes of what women are capable of. It''s also the story of how Jenny Landreth eventually came to be a keen swimmer herself. <Trade Reviewblissful ... an instructive history of a tide not simply turning, but being forced to turn * The Times *Jenny Landreth’s tale of the swimming suffragettes is a wonderful account of lost stories from the canon of women’s sports history… Landreth’s book brings these stories to the mainstream -- Anna KesselFascinating and full of possibility, it is also properly snort-with-giggles-on-the-commute funny. * Alexandra Heminsley *If you love swimming you’ll love this. If you hate swimming, you’ll still love this. * Jo Brand *A brilliantly funny book that made me feel part of a proud and intrepid community of amphibian women * Josie Long *If this marvellous watery odyssey charting women’s swimming history doesn’t make you want to jump in, I will eat my woollen bikini. * Doon Mackichan *A wry and inspiring mix of memoir and social history * Melissa Harrison *Very disappointed. I thought this was going to be a pictorial history of the bikini. * John O'Farrell *This book will delight you. * Daily Mail *Swell has the air of one long stand-up routine, a larky dash through the modern history of female swimmers * New Statesman *A clever, intimate history of personal and female liberation, viewed through a well-fitting pair of swimming goggles... * Kinamara.com *Curl up with the empowering story of the heroines who made swimming possible for women. ... a must-read * Women's Fitness *A lighthearted, conversational history, with emphasis on the challenges women once faced just getting in the water, and the “swimming suffragettes” who defied genteel disapproval to claim the right to do so * Guardian *Swell interweaves Landreth’s own story with a history of female pioneers, “Swimming Suffragettes” who accomplished remarkable feats and paved the way for future generations. * Economist *With examples of swimming heroines and some truly bizarre swimming cossies plus the story of how the author learned to swim, Swell will make you want to plunge straight in * Red *Jenny Landreth is a wonderful and hilarious writer, so this is in no way a stuffy account of historic events. She includes her own history of swimming, the 2012 Olympics, the developments in swimwear and, in her own unique way, the psychology behind why we swim * Wanderlust *Accessible and down to earth, with wonderful asides * The Times Literary Supplement *Swell is a joyous, noisy, drum-beating celebration of swimming and womanhood. -- Charlie Connelly * The New European *Thoroughly researched and informative, full of strong opinion and sound judgement [with] spiky, mischievous writing that knits it all together * Sunday Times *Swell is a wryly funny and seriously inspiring history of women and swimming... she had me at 'waterbiography' -- Lauren Bravo * The Pool *Witty and illuminating book. * Daily Telegraph *It’s a pleasure to be immersed in this educative, entertaining 'waterbiography'. * The Observer *A celebration of liberation, and an essential read for any serious swimmer. * BBC Countryfile magazine *you will never read a better explanation of why women swim (and dare I say it, perhaps men too). * Swimming Times *Landreth guides us through the history of the fabulous swimming pioneers and what she calls the swimming suffragettes, women who smashed prejudice and enable us all to swim freely today. * Guardian Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 My Waterbiograhy (Part 1) 2 The Great Outdoors 3 Going Indoors 4 Exceptional Woman (Part 1) 5 The Clubbable Woman 6 My Waterbiography (Part II) 7 Women of the World 8 In Praise of Lidos 9 We Are What We Wear 10 Olympic Flames 11 My Waterbiography (Part III) 12 The Channel 13 My Waterbiography (Part IV) 14 Exceptional Woman (Part II) 15 Why Do Women Swim? 16 My Waterbiography (Part V) Bibliography Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisIn this deeply personal and lyrical exploration of what it means to ride a bicycle, Paul Maunder explores how our memories have a dialogue with landscape and how cycling and creativity are connected. Taking a journey through the places that have shaped him, we ride across wild moorland, through suburbia and city streets, into quintessentially English pastoral scenes. We see too some of the darker parts of the British countryside, sites of great secrecy that intrigue the imagination.This is a book about how landscape can sustain us, and how even an hour's escape can inspire our creative sides. The bicycle allows us to explore and dream, and return in time for dinner.Trade ReviewPaul Maunder’s exceptional meditation on his cycling life is immensely more rewarding than his sporting focus might suggest. He writes wonderfully about the world on two wheels, that’s for sure, and how the physical effort involved enhances creativity just as much as it raises the pulse – but the view from his saddle also encompasses the joys, pains and disappointments of the wannabe novelist and the family man, the solaces of traffic, solitude and hills, and that yearning we all share to both belong and be unbound. -- Jim Crace, award-winning novelist and writerA meandering, pleasant memoir that takes in the landscape as he [Maunder] experiences it, with anecdotes and references along the way. * FT Weekend *In a two-wheeled response to much great current writing about man and landscape, Paul Maunder’s engaging memoir argues that cycling, because of its innate connection with civilisation, is a perfect cipher for our feelings about the natural world…it does make you want to get on your bike. * The Observer *Table of Contents1 Snow 2 Spring Stories 3 Saturdays 4 Secrets 5 Sky, Solitude 6 Sorted 7 Symbols 8 Streets 9 Summit 10 Suburbs 11 Salisbury Plain 12 Loops Author's Notes Select Bibliography Permissions

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2023 - SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR''What Ned hasn't seen on a sports TV channel isn't worth knowing about.''Gabby Logan''From falling out with Mourinho to flying with Gerrard, this is a wonderful journey through football.''Henry WinterSquare Peg, Round Ball is a candid, insightful reminiscence on a life in football.Although best known as ITV''s commentator on the Tour de France, Ned Boulting has spent most of his professional life covering football.Follow Ned''s journey from football supporter to reporter from criss-crossing the country in a banger of a car hoping for a word or two from the latest big signing, to the glamour of the Champions League. Ned really has been there, done that, and got the Sky Sports jacket to prove it.Witnessing the shenanigans, the machinations and the idiocy of football at close quarters Ned shares his best stories with affection. Whether it''s treading mud intTrade ReviewBELIEVABLE! * Chris Kamara *From falling out with Mourinho to flying with Gerrard, this is a wonderful journey through football. Insightful and funny * Henry Winter, chief football writer, The Times *Full of stories told with great affection -- the TelegraphA great read by one of sport's good guys. * Jonathan Liew, sports writer, The Guardian *A beautiful love letter to a love no longer felt. * Adrian Chiles *A bouncy, amusing and honest reminiscence. This is Ned in a nutshell. * Jim Beglin, BT Sport co-commentator and former Irish professional footballer *A funny, warm and wise book about football and the perpetual struggle to reach adulthood * Harry Pearson *Ned's perspective on football was always like no other – on one hand an amusingly stubborn refusal to succumb to its self-importance; on the other, a fascinated engagement with its narratives and culture. I promise you – nobody saw the game quite like he did * Peter Drury *Ned has seen it all from the excesses and madness of Sky Sports in the early years to the revolving door of ITV Sport which he stayed firmly on the right side of. What Ned hasn’t seen on a sports TV channel isn’t worth knowing about. * Gabby Logan *An elegant, stirring and often joyful journey through football and masculinity * Musa Okwonga *Table of Contents1. Anpfiff 2. Football is the Game 3. The Man With the Cone Upon His Head 4. Brown and White Dynamite 5. Football Factory 6. First Dance 7. Access Codes 8. Best 9. The End of the Day 10. Monkey Business 11. Gap Year 12. A Good Out 13. Wednesday's Child 14. Championship Form 15. The Colour Blue 16. The Skipper 17. Fußball Comes Home 18. Trans-Europe Express 19. Fick FUFA 20. Euro Exit 21. Abpfiff Epilogue Acknowledgements

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Book Synopsis''Raw, unflinching, incredibly brave'' - BBC Woman''s Hour''Visceral and gripping'' Amy Liptrot, author of The OutrunComing Clean is a searingly honest memoir of loving an alcoholic both through the heaviest drinking years and into recovery. When Liz Fraser''s partner fell into a catastrophic vortex of depression and alcoholism, Liz found herself in a relentless hailstorm of lies, loneliness and fear, looking after their young child on her own, heartbroken, mentally shattered and with no idea what was happening or what to do.As she and her family moved between Cambridge, Venice and Oxford, she kept the often shocking truth entirely to herself for a long time, trying in vain to help her partner find a path to sobriety, until she herself finally broke from the trauma and started to speak out only to find she was one of hundreds experiencing similar things, also living in silence and fear. Part diary, part travel journal and part love letter, Coming CleTrade ReviewVisceral and gripping. -- Amy Liptrot * author of The Outrun *Raw, unflinching, incredibly brave -- Anita Rani * BBC Woman's Hour *An extraordinary book – deeply painful and loving. -- Adam Kay[Coming Clean] sheds light on the reverberating effects of addiction and sobriety in this glowing memoir that unravels her experience falling in – and at times, out of – love with an alcoholic ... Fraser illuminates the complexities of loving an addict and why she 'didn’t run a mile' when his illness became apparent ... In the end, her wry prose, sharp self-reflection, and affinity for the uncertain reshapes her fraught experience into a nuanced story of resilience. This will be a beacon of hope for those whose lives have been touched by addiction. * Publishers Weekly *A remarkably frank, emotionally charged foray into one woman’s battle to come to terms with her partner’s alcoholism; a desperate fight to protect herself and her child, and to create a world where they could be enough for one another. -- Charlotte PhilbyA blistering account of damaged love, that will console anyone who lives with an addict. It's heartbreaking, eloquent and blackly funny. A book in search of the limits of compassion, finding none. An extraordinary achievement. -- Rhik Samadder * author of I Never Said I Loved You *Liz Fraser’s memoir will break your heart into a million pieces and then gently squeeze it back together. Heart-rending and sad. A wonderful book. -- Charlie CondouTable of ContentsPrologue Introduction Part One: Cambridge Part Two: Venice Part Three: Madness Part Four: Scandinavia Part Five: Shutting the Door Part Six: The Eternal Chaos of the Broken Mind Part Seven: Rock Bottom Part Eight: Sobriety Part Nine: Lockdown and Breakdown Part Ten: Recovery Epilogue Resources

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Book SynopsisA funny and moving memoir from a girl with bipolar, including down-to-earth, practical advice for young people and those who love them.Trade ReviewThis is a funny, brutal, kind, sobering, remarkably brave and clear-eyed book. Compelling and necessary. * Warren Ellis, author of Normal, Gun Machine and Transmetropolitan *Emily Reynolds is a brilliant writer on an important subject. And hilarious too. * Adam Rutherford *This book isn't just brilliantly written and welcoming in its tone; it's honest, practical and important. It is going to help so many people - including friends and family who desperately want to help a loved one but don't know how. * Emma Gannon, author of Ctrl Alt Delete *Warm, welcoming and wise. * Red magazine *A really clear, funny, useful guide to mental health. * Keith Stuart, author of A Boy Made of Blocks *

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Book SynopsisMy Life in His Paws is the story of the amazing dog who gave back someone''s freedom and confidence. Wendy Hilling has a rare skin condition which means her skin is very delicate. Every moment is difficult and causes pain. It affects the body inside and out: her throat is very narrow and she can stop breathing at any time. But eight years ago Wendy''s life changed forever. She met Ted, the Golden Retriever, and he became her full-time carer. He has saved her life more times than she can remember, always watching and listening, and Wendy is now entirely reliant on him. This is the story of Wendy and her incredible bravery living with a disability and battling against the odds. It''s also the story of Ted, the extraordinary assistance dog, and the unique relationship between a human and animal and the extraordinary things animals are capable of.Trade ReviewThe tale of Ted, the four-legged housekeeper and bodyguard who saves his owner's life EVERY DAY, is as touching as it's inspiring. * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis''A remarkable, powerful, tender and insightful book that will change lives'' Stephen Fry''A unique book . . . The stories [Shooter] tells are poignant and powerful testimonies to the resilience of the human spirit'' Marjorie Wallace, CBE''Through fascinating case studies, Dr Mike Shooter explores issues such as grief, bullying, family breakdown and self-harm. It''s a compelling and fascinating glimpse into his career, but is also full of insights into the minds of children, the struggles of growing up and the challenges of parenting''Max Pemberton, Daily Mail''An excellent read for psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, whether they work with children or adults''MDEdge* * * * * * * * * *Child psychiatrist Dr Mike Shooter sheds light on the painful issues and universal experience of growing up, through the stories of his patients and their families.GrTrade Review'A remarkable, powerful, tender and insightful book that will change lives. I cannot doubt that hundreds - I would hope thousands - of families can be helped by Mike Shooter's profound, careful and utterly convincing insights. He combines all the clinical and scientific expertise of a physician with the understanding, patience and openness of the best therapists. But he has something else too - his own very special gifts of wisdom, warmth, humour and kindness, which shine through on every page. Nothing here is reduced to a cookie-cutter syndrome. Dr Shooter understands Tolstoy's famous observation "All happy families are alike; all unhappy families are unhappy in their own way." If you had a troubled, dark childhood you will wish someone in your family had had access to Growing Pains and if you have children who don't seem to be able to be happy, I urge you to read it now.' -- STEPHEN FRY'This is a unique book which combines the wisdom of a psychiatrist who has helped heal the minds of young people in crisis for over four decades and his own experience of a damaged childhood and subsequent depression. The stories he tells are poignant and powerful testimonies to the resilience of the human spirit and will fascinate all of us who struggle to make sense of our own and other people's lives.' -- MARJORIE WALLACE CBE, Chief Executive, SANE'Brilliant book. Mike Shooter has through the lens of his own lived experience of depression given us a truly 3D picture of the struggles of growing up. This is the first book I've read that bridges the gap between evidence-based texts and what all of us privileged to work with children need - intelligent kindness, emotional intelligence and a listening, non-judgmental ear.' -- PROFESSOR DAME SUE BAILEY, Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges'Provocative, engrossing and engaging. Compulsive reading and should be compulsory reading for all who have children and those who look after and deal with children and young people. Lessons from a life time of learning and sharing.' -- DINESH BHUGRA CBE, President (2014–17), World Psychiatric Assocation'Mike Shooter's book is full of humanity. Following the journey through the stories of people he has seen during his career, we learn so much about the stresses and pains of young people's lives. We also learn about the ways in which thoughtful therapy can make a real difference. Mike places himself by the side of the young people he works with not least by sharing his own life challenges. A wise and ultimately uplifting book.' -- JENNY EDWARDS CBE, CEO, Mental Health Foundation'In his engaging and informative book, Dr Mike Shooter's wisdom and insight are significant as he works in some of the toughest areas of child and adolescent mental health problems.' -- DR HADYN WILLIAMS, CEO, British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)'How can we offer advice to others if we don't recognise our own flaws and weaknesses? Mike Shooter reflects on his own journey and the challenges of depression to draw from many a gentle message of hope that things can be better. I have never read a book where turning the page I found myself in tears. A book that was difficult to put down.' -- MIKE GREENAWAY, Director, Play Wales'A highly readable book for families as well as carers and professionals to help to understand the experience of growing up - and a valuable contribution towards better outcomes for many young people experiencing difficulties today.' -- CATRIONA WILLIAMS OBE, CEO, Children in Wales'Reads like a compelling novel with complex characters and challenging plots ... Inspiring ... Growing Pains is a book I look forward to re-reading. I highly recommend it ... It will be one of only a few that live on the shelf above my desk for easy reference.' -- Augene Nanning * BACP CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE *'Through fascinating case studies, Dr Mike Shooter explores issues such as grief, bullying, family breakdown and self-harm. It's a compelling and fascinating glimpse into his career, but is also full of insights into the minds of children, the struggles of growing up and the challenges of parenting.' -- Max Pemberton * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisFrom the host of the popular podcasts The Liturgists and Ask Science Mike, a story of having faith, losing it, and finding it again through science - revealing how the latest in neuroscience, physics, and biology help us understand God, faith and ourselves.Trade ReviewFascinating * Families First Magazine *

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Book Synopsis''A wonderful self-portrait of a family with autism at its heart. Uplifting and grounded, frank and encouraging, serious and funny, A Normal Family affirms that there is life after an ASD diagnosis - an atypical life, yes, but an abundant and nourishing life just the same'' David Mitchell, author of THE REASON I JUMPJohnny is nineteen. He likes music, art and going to the beach. He is also autistic - in his case that means he will probably never get a job, never have a girlfriend, never leave home. And over the last two decades this is what his father, TV producer and comedy writer Henry Normal, and mother, Angela Pell, have been trying to come to terms with. This is a book for anyone whose life has been touched by autism - it''s about the hope, the despair, and the messy, honest, sometimes funny day-to-day world of autism, as well as a wonderful, warm book about the unconditional, unconventional love between a father, a mother and Trade ReviewA wonderful self-portrait of a family with autism at its heart. Uplifting and grounded, frank and encouraging, serious and funny, A Normal Family affirms that there is life after an ASD diagnosis - an atypical life, yes, but an abundant and nourishing life just the same. -- David Mitchell, author of The Reason I JumpThe book is about how [they] grieved for the life Johnny isn't able to have - and learnt to celebrate the one that he does ... as much a portrait of a marriage as it is a young man with autism. * The Times *Honest but funny * Sunday Express *Pell and Normal describe hopes shattered, dreams deferred and victories gained in this brave, funny and searingly honest memoir * Daily Express *A candid and frequently funny book. * Radio Times *Tenderly opening a private door to a personal story ... a stunning read that will resonate with anyone who has ever loved * Latest Brighton *What leaps off the page is that there's a lot of joy and love in this family * Chortle *Parents of autistic children will find it indispensable ... courageous * Five Books *

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Book SynopsisTrees are part of the British psyche. We care if just one tree is cut down unnecessarily. So what happens when 15 million are blown down in one night? Part travelogue, part memoir, part celebration of nature''s ability to heal itself, Windblown is as rich in character and story-telling as the rings of an ancient oak.''Windblown is a marvellously original mixture of reportage and memoir, holding a memorable event in recent history up to the light and making sense of it'' Bel Mooney''A wonderful read'' Michael Fish''Vivid ... thoroughly researched and informative'' TLS''This eloquently written account shows that the Great Storm was a wake-up call, providing a wealth of information that helps us manage our treescape today.'' Tony Kirkham, Head of the Kew Gardens ArboretumTrade ReviewTamsin Treverton Jones is obviously a countrywoman with much love of the nature around her. Interspersed with her travels and accounts of places and events are vivid descriptions of environment, people and animals, as well as her own family history. Her thoroughly researched and informative book throws new light on the vagaries of the great storm. * Times Literary Supplement *Windblown is as much memoir as history, and attractively weaves in memories of the author's father Terry Thomas, whose mural commemorating the storm stands in Kew Gardens. * Spectator *This meticulously researched and absorbing account... uncovers stories we may have not heard before... Beautifully written - you can almost feel the wind blowing through the pages. * Bath Magazine *A poignant reminder that Britain can at times be subject to the dark forces of nature. * Cotswold Life *An elegant exploration of the aftermath [of the Great Storm of 1987] * The Express *Windblown, which contains valuable diagnosis... is most worth reading for its information from Kew Gardens. * Robin Lane Fox, Financial Times *Hauntingly beautiful * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisJeff Brazier has experienced bereavement in many forms: In his childhood, helping his two boys through the devastating death of their mother, Jade Goody, witnessing the anguish of his own mum when she lost both of her parents, and hearing the stories of his coaching clients who are coming to terms with loss. No one can be an expert on grief, but within this book Jeff provides support and guidance from someone who has been there. Accessible and hands-on The Grief Survival Guide offers practical advice on everything from preparing for the eventuality of death, managing grief, how best to support family and friends, and moving forward. There is no ''one size fits all'' approach so instead Jeff teaches us that the best we can do is understand, cope and survive.

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Book Synopsis ''Simply magnificent.'' Mail on Sunday A massive audience in sitting-rooms, parks and pubs watched England in the 2018 World Cup. Yet as Duncan Hamilton demonstrates with style, insight and wit in Going to the Match, watching on TV is no substitute for being there. Hamilton embarks on a richly entertaining, exquisitely crafted journey through football. Glory game or grass roots, England v Slovenia or Guiseley v Hartlepool, he delves beneath the action to illuminate the stories which make the sport endlessly compelling. Along the way he marvels at present-day titans Harry Kane, Mo Salah, Kevin De Bruyne and Paul Pogba, reflects on sepia-tinted magicians Stanley Matthews, Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Charlton and Pele, and assesses managerial giants from Brian Clough and Jose Mourinho to Arsene Wenger and Gareth Southgate. The odyssey takes Hamilton from Fleetwood to Berlin, via Glasgow and a Manchester derby, making detours into art, cTrade ReviewHamilton is steeped in the history and traditions of football and communicates his knowledge lightly and with wit and intelligence. Above all, though, this is a fan's-eye view that brilliantly expresses the passion that millions like him, in pursuit of happiness and belonging, feel for the beautiful game. Simply magnificent. * Mail on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis''A wonderful read'' -- Lorraine KellyIn this book for dog lovers everywhere, Jonathan Wittenberg says his dogs have taught him, more than anything else, how to appreciate the wonderful world in which we live -- and how to develop better relationships with his friends and families. In this wonderful, warm account of one man and his dog, Jonathan brings all the big themes of friendship, faithfulness, kindness, cruelty, grief, prayer and spiritual companionship to the fore, and shows us how we can learn so much from a dog''s approach to life. If you''re one of the 8.5 million dog owners in the UK the answer to a better way of living may already be under your roof.Trade Review'A wonderful read' * Lorraine Kelly *

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Book SynopsisA moving, transcendent memoir of the loss of a child and the survival of love in the wake of unimaginable tragedy. For readers who loved Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air.Trade ReviewA gripping and beautiful book about the power of love in the face of unimaginable lossHow do we wrest beauty out of searing pain? How, in the face of the most profound grief and sorrow, do we search for meaning and find it? Jayson Greene does just that in this soul-affirming book. Once More We Saw Stars is a stunning human achievement as well as a literary oneJayson Greene's Once More We Saw Stars attains flight in a language born of sheer necessity, that of bridging the gulf between daily life and the unnameableThis stunning book reminds us that nothing - not even devastating grief - can define us as much as our deepest loves. A must readDevastating . . . his perspective will change yours for the betterEloquent . . . insightful, emotional writing of rare integrity - The Irish Examiner

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Book SynopsisDerek Pringle is finally ready to tell his story of cricket in the 80s. First chosen by England whilst still at university in 1982, Derek featured in the national side for the next 11 years. He played 30 Tests, 44 One Day Internationals, and appeared in 2 World Cups.Inside the dressing room, and out on the pitch, Derek witnessed at first hand an era of English cricket populated by characters such as Botham, Gooch, Lamb, and Gower. An era so far removed from today''s rather anodyne sporting environment. And it wasn''t just at international level that the sport lived life to the full. He was an integral part of Essex''s all conquering side that won the County Championship 6 times as well as numerous one day trophies. Full of insight and experience here is the story of one of English cricket''s most tumultuous periods told by someone who was there.Trade ReviewPringle's tale is both a love letter to the greatest player of his generation, Sir Ian Botham and an engaging romp in which cricket only plays a walk-on part. That despite the author's playing record that included 30 Tests, 44 ODIs, six County Championships with Essex and a World Cup final, a CV that most would be proud to take to the grave. * Michael Atherton, The Times *A fascinating and hilarious read. Like Chris Lewis, Andrew Flintoff, Ben Stokes and many more [Pringle] was originally hailed as the new Botham, before winding up as a very junior version. In his storytelling though, he might just have the edge on the great man. * Daily Telegraph *Anecdotes are funny, original and astounding, often all three...He [Pringle] has delivered with interest on his promise to avoid a bog-standard, self-serving work; if he pushed boundaries in his career he has flattened them completely with this honest addition to cricket literature. * The Cricketer *As Pringle spent the decade as [Ian] Botham's understudy ... it makes for a fascinating and hilarious read. * Daily Telegraph *Former England Test bowler's eye-popping and hilarious account of cricket in the 80s is as doused as a sherry trifle. * Guardian *A feast of anecdotes * The Observer *

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Book Synopsis''Woodward''s story is one of the most important of recent years...heartbreakingly powerful'' THE TIMES''Harrowing, brave, hugely important book'' HENRY WINTER''Haunting'' SUNDAY TIMESSHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL AWARD AND THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARD 2020A brave and moving account by football''s first whistle blower, breaking the silence on the scandal of sexual abuse in youth clubs and junior teams.Andy Woodward was a wide eyed, hopeful footballer playing for Stockport Boys, when Barry Bennell first noticed him. Andy was 11 years old, and Bennell a youth coach with a big reputation for spotting and nurturing young footballing talent. The clubs Bennell worked for and the parents of the boys he coached, trusted and believed in him, inviting him into their lives and their homes. But behind the charismatic mask was a profoundly evil man willing to go to any lengths to satisfy his own dark appTrade ReviewHarrowing, brave, hugely important. * Henry Winter *Absolutely amazed by the power of Andy Woodward's testimony. * Jeremy Vine Show *I'm sure this will be one of the defining football books of the era. * Sam Wallace, Chief Football Writer for the Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThe first translation into English of Mother Homer is Dead, written in the immediate aftermath of the death of the Cixous's mother in the 103rd year of her life.

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Book SynopsisLyle Campbell's linguistic fieldwork has taken him to numerous countries, sometimes in challenging circumstances. Written with humour, heart, and a clear dedication to endangered languages and their speakers, his vivid memoir is a lesson not only on life in the field but on the importance of documenting indigenous languages.

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Book SynopsisA searingly honest memoir of the uplifting highs and crushing lows of a life spent policing on the front lineTrade ReviewThis courageous and finely written book is a timely invitation to think more deeply about what we ask of our police -- Jane Shilling * DAILY MAIL *A stark account of a talented police officer's breakdown . . . This is a startlingly honest book and the final two chapters are heartbreaking -- Richard Morrison * THE TIMES *I read BLUE more or less in one sitting. I thought it was wonderful - very powerful, deeply moving and utterly honest -- Henry Marsh, author of DO NO HARMAdmirably honest and movingly human . . . Sutherland asks us to look behind the faceless blue and see the individual people * SPECTATOR *A remarkable book: a magnum opus on belief and success, on depression and despair. It is well written and intellectually demanding, profound and deeply moving. In places, it is funny; everywhere, it is thoughtful. It has as much to tell us about mental illness as it does about policing. And there is much love in it: for friends, for family, for life -- Alastair StewartAn honest look at the vulnerability that comes with bravery * THE I *Brave and very honest -- Bear GryllsThe effect of this honesty is to leave us both more appreciative of police officers and more concerned for their well-being, as well as encouraged that such a compassionate man was promoted so vertiginously. [Sutherland] describes police work as "fulfilling, humbling, inspiring, daunting, shattering, rewarding and soul-stirring" which is also a fair description of his book * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *Courageous and moving -- Tom Harper, THE SUNDAY TIMES Home Affairs CorrespondentJohn Sutherland lays out the human cost of working as a police officer in simple, devastating terms * HUFFINGTON POST *A gripping book . . . moving and really powerful . . . I highly recommend it -- Jumoke Fashola * BBC LONDON *Will expand people's understanding of what it means to be a police officer in Britain today, revealing the truth about the toll that a career in policing can have on those tasked with the responsibility of tackling crime. This is a brave and compelling account of policing from a very senior officer in the most renowned police force in the world -- Colin Taylor, author of LIFE OF A SCILLY SERGEANTI commend it to the public. It's a great book -- Cressida Dick, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police ServiceA superb book -- Charles CummingA remarkable, revealing and inspiring insight into the worlds of the police and the policed. The stories told are by turns heart-warming and saddening, moving and maddening - it is an account of the very best and the very worst of our society. It is a book which should be required reading for all who aspire to public office, in any sector and at every level -- John Nichol, author of TORNADO DOWNA fascinating, powerful and beautifully written insight into the life of a police officer -- Dan Walker, journalist and broadcasterA remarkable, honest account of twenty years in policing -- Sophy Ridge, journalist and broadcaster

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Book SynopsisCan you feel nostalgic for a life you''ve never known?Suffused with her much-loved warmth and wit, Emma John''s memoir follows her moving and memorable journey to master one of the hardest musical styles on earth - and to find her place in an alien world.Emma had fallen out of love with her violin when a chance trip to the American South introduced her to bluegrass music. Classically trained, highly strung and wedded to London life, Emma was about as country as a gin martini. So why did it feel like a homecoming?Answering that question takes Emma deep into the Appalachian mountains, where she uncovers a hidden culture that confounds every expectation - and learns some emotional truths of her own.Trade ReviewWayfaring Stranger goes beyond being an entertaining, informative book about a niche musical genre: it becomes the story of John's personal mission to shake off a kind of existential stiffness - an inhibiting perfectionism - to rediscover not just her passion for music, but also for life . . . Books like this work best when they manage to pull in even the most casual reader, saturating them in the colours, emotions and sensations of hidden subcultures, and John more than delivers * Observer *There is a touch of Bill Bryson to her escapades. She is the well-meaning outsider stumbling through unfamiliar surroundings. She knows how to tell a good joke, and how to laugh at herself * The Times *John chronicles in lively prose the setbacks, breakthroughs and devilish difficulties encountered . . . More than a memoir, Wayfaring Stranger is a valuable contribution to musicology and an informative tribute to a musical culture . . . an excellent Bluegrass primer * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisA mother's gritty yet often humorous account of family life in Africa, and the consequences of a violent event on each of them.Trade ReviewAn astonishing story ... Nicholls carries us through her experiences with a searing honesty that for me was hugely educational and deeply moving.A life lived beyond the dreams of most of us. It's a real page-turner - Jeremy IronsBursting with humour, intelligence and fierce humanity, Under the Camelthorn Tree takes you on a breathtaking journey: anthropological and personal. It is an unflinchingly brave, generous book filled with the wisdom of one who has seen both the beauty and the darkness the world has to give - Sophie DahlA wonderfully rich and honest memoir of an extraordinary life by an extraordinary person. A book that somehow manages to be both charming and challenging, a bit like Africa herself. The writing is as light as a sonnet but it is the honesty that anchors it to reality - a special book - Tim ButcherUnder the Camelthorn Tree is remarkable, wild as a pride of lions -- heartbreaking, relentlessly truthful, funny. Kate Nicholls steps into life's beauties and hardships with a rare and extraordinary courage: you will love this book, and love Kate too - Erica Wagner, Harper's Bazaar'Under The Camelthorn Tree is a breathtaking memoir written with an abundance of wit, honesty and love. Over the course of a page I found myself weeping, giggling, inspired, challenged, but never lectured to. Kate's humour is infectious, her honesty and vulnerability emboldening and her language precise in conjuring the sights, sounds and smells of her unique journey' - Harry MichellA sort of Life Force personified, a whirlwind of love and motherhood and science; beautiful woman, brutally true, impossibly brave, impossibly stylish, just plain bloody impossible. Self-taught in science, this poet of the Okavango home-schooled - right through to good universities - four remarkable children in a remote camp surrounded by individually known, radio-tracked lions. After tirelessly working to rehabilitate Botswana's rape victims, her own horrific rape and its aftermath threatened to destroy her life and the family idyll but . . . well, read the whole beautiful book to the end. You'll never see another memoir like this -- Richard Dawkins

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Book SynopsisFrom The Likely Lads and Porridge to Auf Wiedersehen, Pet - plus Brickies, Bank Robbers, Rogues, Rockers, Prima Donnas and PanicTrade ReviewDick Clement and Ian La Frenais are responsible for making a lot of people laugh a lot. Their writing track record is up there with the very best ... riveting .... the book is a tribute to the breadth and range of their impact - and how much fun they have had in the process -- Sarah Crompton * THE SUNDAY TIMES *Witty, deft, highly consumable, sporadically revealing ... vivid and amusing ... It's good and gossipy, but they sneak in all sorts of smart observations about showbiz ... There's a joy, certainly, to joining them at - or within a short stride from - the high table of television and film ... their clarity and understated wit throughout explains why they are still much in demand -- Dominic Maxwell * THE TIMES *Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais have brought a smile to the face of the nation for the best part of six decades ... More Than Likely is a matey stroll down memory lane in which they separately, and jointly, recall past glories and the famous faces who have crossed their paths ... More Than Likely is an entertaining read full of sharp-eyed nostalgia, star-studded anecdotes and an affection for the good and bad times of a lifetime in the storytelling business -- Allan Hunter * SUNDAY EXPRESS *Clement and La Frenais' book will tickle anyone who loves comedy and relishes gossipy stories about cultural icons of yore ... The book's index reads like a who's who of showbusiness. Over the course of six decades, Clement and La Frenais encountered everyone from Ava Gardner and Richard Burton to Peter Cook an Dudley Moore via the rude and foul-mouthed Michael Winner. Their career has been a crazy ride and it makes for a thoroughly entertaining read -- Garry Bushell * DAILY EXPRESS *The writers of Porridge, The Likely Lads, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, The Commitments and Lovejoy take a stroll down memory lane, recalling past glories and the many famous faces to cross their paths. There are fond tales of Ronnie Barker, Bill Nighy and Hollywood greats from Marlon Brando to Ava Gardner. This is a light-hearted entertaining and nostalgic memoir * DAILY MIRROR *Fascinating insights into some of the actors they have worked with over the years, including Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale and James Bolam * CHOICE magazine *More Than Likely brings to life with flair and humour the people that inspired them ... Memorable encounters include Hollywood stars like Richard Burton, Michael Caine, Ava Gardner, Sean Connery and Daniel Craig * YORKSHIRE EVENING POST *This immensely readable namedropathon is a constant delight. Writing alternate chapters, as you'd expect fromthe authors of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, it's a delightfully illuminating affair ... their ability to entertain is just as evident in print ... it's a great reminder that Clement and La Frenais are true pioneers. Influenced greatly by thekitchen sink dramas of the 60s, they took the genre to the small screen with The Likely Lads. It's easy to forget just howgroundbreaking that series was -- Stephen Griffin * CAMDEN NEW JOURNAL *

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Book SynopsisA thought-provoking look at the biggest challenges facing society through the unique lens of an experienced police officer and hostage negotiatorTrade ReviewHonest and sensible . . . without being sensationalist or sentimental, Sutherland lifts the lid on that underworld of despair, degradation and needless death. It's a read that should shame anyone with a conscience -- Richard Morrison * THE TIMES *A love letter to police officers and the most vulnerable people they protect and serve -- CHRISTIE WATSON, author of THE LANGUAGE OF KINDNESSThis book will change the way you think about the police. A rich and reflective account, full of anecdote and lessons learned about society from someone who spent his career working at its fringes. Anyone who cares about justice - whether citizen or politician - should read this book -- SARAH LANGFORD, author of IN YOUR DEFENCEUrgent and compelling. We all have lessons to learn from this book -- SIMON MAYOI've never heard the job described better by anyone. John Sutherland gives a unique and personal insight into what it really means to be a police officer in modern England. The adrenaline rushes, the dreadful tedium of bureaucracy, walking on eggshells for fear of offending anyone, the moments of stark horror or overwhelming sadness; the indescribable thrill of making a difference to someone's life and the depths of despair when you fail. The overwhelming workload and the emotional overload, seeing more things daily than most people will ever see in a lifetime. Running towards danger when everyone else is running away. A job that on any given day can send your spirits soaring to the heavens, or leave your soul scarred forever -- PETER JAMESThe most comprehensive insight into policing I have read . . . well researched and crafted with the deftness of an exceptionally fine writer . . . compelling * DAILY EXPRESS *Tough, earnest, thought-provoking and moving * i NEWSPAPER *This is an important book, one that should be read by the Home Secretary and every member of Parliament, as well as every newspaper editor and crime correspondent. John Sutherland is someone who after twenty-five years of police experience has a remarkable story to tell . . . one that we ignore at our peril -- JEFFREY ARCHERAn incredibly thoughtful, eloquent, and revealing book about policing. Not only is it absolutely fascinating, there are also a whole heap of lessons that can and should be learned within its pages. Accessible, considered, meaningful, shocking, inspiring * LOVEREADING, Book of the Month *Tough, earnest, thought-provoking and moving, this is a book that lingers * PRESS ASSOCIATION *

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Book Synopsis''Memoirs of such richness are rare . . . a joy'' JAMES NAUGHTIE''A remarkable personal journey, by one of the great political correspondents of our world - eloquent, enlightening, exhilarating'' PHILIPPE SANDSA trailblazer for women in journalism, Hella Pick arrived in Britain in 1939 as a child refugee from Austria. Over nearly four decades she covered the volatile global scene, first in West Africa, followed by America and long periods in Europe. In her thirty-five years with the Guardian she reported on the end of Empire in West Africa, the assassination of President Kennedy, Martin Luther King''s march from Selma to Montgomery, the Vietnam peace negotiation in Paris, the 1968 student revolt in France, the birth of the Solidarity movement in Poland, and the closing stages of the Cold War. A request for coffee on board a Soviet ship anchored in Malta led to a chat with Mikhail Gorbachev. A request for an interview with Willy Brandt led to a peTrade ReviewA remarkable personal journey, by one of the great political correspondents of our world - eloquent, enlightening, exhilarating -- Philippe SandsMemoirs of such richness are rare. Hella Pick's personal and journalistic journey from Nazi Europe to Brexit teems with humanity, diamond insights into the leaders and events of our time, and endless fun. A joy -- James NaughtieHella Pick, the doyenne of post-war foreign correspondents, had a ringside seat throughout the Cold War, from her journalist's start in West Africa to her Guardian postings in the UN and USA, to her commanding role in reporting on the collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. This is a moving and fascinating autobiography that captures a world that now feels distant -- Baroness Helena Kennedy QCHella Pick arrived in England in 1939 on one of the last Kindertransport trains from Austria and became one of the luckiest as well as the most skillful journalists of her generation. She always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. These memoirs offer a shrewd, detached and wise insight into some of the great events of the late 20th century -- Jonathan SumptionHella Pick's vivid and moving account of her trailblazing life on the inside track of international politics over four dramatic decades is a revelation - and a triumph of her extraordinary spirit -- Cate HasteThrilling and moving, Hella Pick's odyssey from child exile to trailblazing woman journalist and confidante of world leaders shines a bright light on two of the greatest challenges of our time: achieving gender equality and the refugee's struggle for identity and belonging -- Simon MayAn elegant and engaging memoir. Hella Pick escaped the Nazi death-camps to come to Britain and became the doyenne of diplomatic journalists. Hers is an inspirational story -- Lionel BarberIn her extraordinary memoir, Hella Pick reveals why she is one of the foremost Foreign Correspondents of her age . . . this is a memoir of great hope and a fascinating testimony, often with telling microscopic detail, that explains how we just managed to make it through the five decades after the Second World War without blowing ourselves up -- Misha GlennyAn extraordinary life, told by a veteran among Foreign Correspondents who reported in-depth on the forces which shaped the Cold War - and its uneasy aftermath. From the building of the Berlin Wall to its demise, the scramble for Africa, power play of Washington and New York and rise of China, Hella Pick has been on hand with her notebook and keen eye. Her odyssey from a child sent to Britain in the Kindertransport to doyenne of the foreign corps is a rich journey of discovery - professional and personal -- Anne McElvoyHella Pick is the doyenne, the queen, of diplomatic writers. Her memoirs are beautifully written, and filled with revealing and moving detail. If you want to understand why the world is in the state it is, Hella's story helps to explain it all. At the end, I closed it with real regret -- John SimpsonAn extraordinary life, and Hella Pick's impressive insights are remarkable -- Thomas Harding, author of 'The House by the Lake'From pre-war Vienna to Fleet Street via the Kindertransport, Hella Pick's memoir is an enjoyable mix of the personal and political, following her journey from refugee to senior journalist with a front-row view of world politics -- Katharine Viner, Editor-in-chief, Guardian News & MediaHella Pick lived through, and reported on, many of the most seismic moments of the past fourscore years or so. Now she turns her exceptional reporting skills on herself - and the result is fascinating, moving and truly inspiring -- Alan Rusbridger, Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford and former Editor-in-Chief of the GuardianThe great Guardian journalist Hella Pick's memoir Invisible Walls is not just a fascinating account of how this Austrian refugee went on to cover some of the most significant events of the last century, but is also a clarion call for good old-fashioned journalism in a world of social media and fake news * CHOICE *A touchingly open account of a stellar career and its disappointments, personal and professional. She arrived at Liverpool Street station in 1939, and eleven-year-old Kindertransport refugee from Vienna... Her account of her long career is remarkable, partly owing to the range of postwar politicians who knew her and gave her stories... This account of her extraordinary life is a considerable achievement -- Frances Cairncross * LITERARY REVIEW *Both an eyewitness account of many of the defining moments and figures of the post-1945 age as well as a poignant reminder of the searing personal story of a generation of immigrant children who, having fled Nazism, grew up to make a remarkable impact on Britain... In what was still very much a male domain, Pick stood out as an independent woman with a sharp intellect, ambition and disarming charm. The result was insightful coverage as well as some memorable encounters in pursuit of the story... "I had no pretensions to see myself as a pioneer, let alone a role model,", she concludes. In this aspect, the celebrated diplomatic correspondent, foreign policy expert and roving world reporter most certainly failed -- Tessa Szyszkowitz * FINANCIAL TIMES *[A] formidable memoir of a dynamic life spent gathering information in some of the world's most powerful corridors * STRONG WORDS magazine *As a journalist, [Pick] covered the end of empire in Africa, the cold war, the 1968 upheavals in Paris, Kennedy's assassination and the collapse of the Soviet bloc. At the UN, or at the Royal Institute for International Affairs in London she cut a distinctive figure, always elegantly dressed, her dark hair swept back from her strong features. Her deep voice with its cut-glass accent was instantly recognisable when she was interviewed on BBC radio. Those of us who followed her as female foreign correspondents in what was then a male-dominated profession could only envy her poise - and her legendary contacts book. She knew everyone, from diplomats to prime ministers and presidents. More importantly, they knew her. -- Lindsey Hilsum * THE GUARDIAN *Pick's book is a celebration of a lost age of journalism, when, once accepted, reporters were free to roam the corridorsof power unfettered by security constraints, with easy access to the powerful, dictating copy over the phone, with no competition from the internet or social media... A constant refrain runs through Pick's book. "Irrespective of their achievements", she writes, refugees like herself "carried throughout their lives a sense of insecurity that would never truly evaporate". No amount of recognition, scoops or praise ever quite freed her from what she calls "an open prison" bound by invisible walls, with no key to the gates... In work as in her life, admirable and tough-minded, she chose not to look back, but to keep marching forwards. -- Caroline Moorehead * TLS *Hella Pick has lived an extraordinarily rich life... one of Britain's most highly respected journalists, a woman whose articles, primarily for the Guardian, revealed an authentically global perspective... Hella Pick is a brilliant narrator and, in the course of an action-packed book, we encounter distinguished figures from across the world -- Daniel Snowman * JEWISH CHRONICLE *Pick was the doyenne of the diplomatic press corps and her legend preceded her... Invisible Walls is a book of great power and honesty, packed with vivid detail of her reporting adventures from the newly independent African states of the late 1950s, through the US of the turbulent 60s and on, through the cold war and into this uncertain age of populist promise-makers, all told with a keen intelligence and relentless dedication to the facts... She brought to the job the intellectual hunger and moral purpose of one who had escaped the great catastrophe that descended on Europe in the 1930s... I commend her book to the widest audience possible but particularly those setting out in journalism. Pick is testament to the necessity of having a broad intellectual hinterland and an open mind, the value of cultivating sources and finding things out. There is no better manifesto against the current clickbait culture and narcissistic social media obsession. This voice from before the age of Facebook and Twitter is profound and urgent -- Fergal Keane * THE OBSERVER *

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Book Synopsis''Moving and inspiring, courageous and true: real art. Just reading her is pleasure'' Amy Liptrot, author of The OutrunWhat happens when you realise that you must change your life?When - after years of hiding in routine, shrinking from opportunity, and sleepwalking through your days - you know you want more.How do you remake your life without breaking it?The Cure for Sleep is the stunning memoir of a smalltown wife and mother who returns from sudden near-death determined to live her second life on a larger, braver scale - whatever it takes, or costs.Trade ReviewA sublimely written account of refusing to be defined by social constructs and embracing life-enhancing change, The Cure for Sleep is a poignant and inspiring slice of literary memoir. * WATERSTONES, Non-Fiction Books of 2022 *This hypnotically written debut memoir, all about claiming a bolder, more risk-taking life, reads like a fable. -- Jessie Thompson * EVENING STANDARD, The best non fiction books to look out for in 2022 *A tender but ferocious memoir... to awaken, to see the world with such freshness, to "become an explorer of the everyday and break new ground in it" - we could all do with a bit more of that. -- Marianne Levy * THE I PAPER *Absorbing . . . robust, declarative even, but there is also something disquieting in this memoir . . . for Shadrick, to be a woman, an artist and a mother still seems something not quite of this world: a fairy tale that puzzles her even though - or perhaps because - it came true -- Sheena Joughin * TLS *Thoughtful, poetically articulate . . . ambitious in its scope, a memoir telling her journey from rural working-class Devon to where she is today -- Boudicca Fox-Leonard * THE TELEGRAPH *Absolutely gorgeous. If you like lyrical, beautiful, searching non-fiction, then you'll love The Cure for Sleep -- Melissa Febos, author of GirlhoodSuch a bold, brave, and beautiful story about birth, death, rebirth and building a larger life * Charlie Gilmour, author of Featherhood *I love this book. Tanya's story is moving and inspiring. Her thoughts and writing are well considered, courageous & true: real art. Just reading her is pleasure * Amy Liptrot, author of The Outrun *This is a book of women and words; homes and honesty; light and longing. A life laid bare, and given to us as reminder of what it means to choose to live. Shadrick weaves the raw beauty of the day to day with the magic of myth and fairy tale to offer us a way through the darkest woods * Kerri ní Dochartaigh, author of Thin Places *I finished this wonderful book with tears in my eyes. A book about daring to be, daring to head out, to encounter truths and to understand what place desire must have and must not have in a life. It is beautifully written, both careful and passionate, both slight and strong in its gestures like the best of art, and astonishingly, heartrendingly open. Intensity, beauty, subtlety, pain and courage - all are here. * Adam Nicolson, author of Sea Room and The Mighty Dead *In beautiful prose, Tanya Shadrick writes her own fairy tale of becoming. She is fearless in her depiction of female desire - I think many women will find themselves in these pages. * Katherine May, author of Wintering *A daring and enchantingly written blend of memoir and self-help, which urges us to consider, at any age, breaking the spell of our inherited longings for love, approval, safety and rescue, and doing what we are actually called to do with our one wild and precious life. -- Caroline Sanderson * THE BOOKSELLER, Editor's Choice *Such lovely observations on familial love and motherhood - and being alive * Kit de Waal, author of My Name is Leon *A compelling personal memoir that I gulped down greedily. It's a story about struggle, class, opportunity (taken and wasted), art, sex and desire. About how to live, once you've faced down death, and how to love. The writing is direct and meaningful, open and heart-felt; Tanya is fearless in her integrity and honesty. In laying out her life, Tanya has created a book with the capacity to change yours * Jenny Landreth, author of Swell *This book is absolutely magnificent, heartfelt, beautiful. I read it compulsively * Kate Hamer, author of The Girl in the Red Coat *The Cure for Sleep is an extraordinary book, an artistic triumph in its attention to language and rhythm, but also its truth and honesty. It is full of integrity in its exploration of what it is to be a woman, a wife, a mother, but also an artist; and doesn't shy away from those difficult questions of sacrifice, so challenging for the working and desiring woman. But it is also a story of endurance, that with patience, bravery and wisdom, we can all reach new heights in our relationship with ourselves and those we love. * Lily Dunn, author of Sins of My Father *The Cure For Sleep is a book that, from the outset, subverts expectations... The result is a memoir that reads like a fable and invites us, however late in life, to step out of the confines we have made for ourselves... Every woman will see something of herself in the clinical dissection Shadrick performs on her own history, and in the cultivation of the woman she strives to become. -- Anna Galbraith * THE MAIL ON SUNDAY *This brave and beautifully written book describes the painstaking, painful process of transformation... the courageous story of a woman expanding the narrow confines of her old life for a generous, expansive, compassionate future. -- Eithne Farry * DAILY MIRROR *A viscerally honest account of two lives, the second lived more fully, more fearlessly, as wife, mother, friend, feminist, risk-taker, hospice scribe, consummate writer - and completely, impressively her own person. -- Rose Shepherd * SAGA *Honest, raw, powerful - in mesmerising prose Shadrick has produced a profound exposition of how a woman might fully inhabit her own life, even while attending to wider family ties and responsibilities. Personal yet universal, a truly thoughtprovoking read. * SUSSEX LIFE *

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Book SynopsisA rallying cry for a new form of global solidarity in the wake of the Covid-19 epidemic. Written from the Italian lockdown. 'Reinforced my sense of hope in humanity' Philippe Sands, bestselling author of EAST WEST STREETTrade ReviewSublimely elegant, provocatively simple, deeply troubling. In one short hour, in the midst of this difficult moment, Giordano reinforced my sense of hope in humanity, in the one and the many. * Philippe Sands, author of EAST WEST STREET *Part analysis, part journal, perhaps the first from the new world we all share. It is modest, lucid, calm, informed, directly helpful in trying to think about where we are now... The literature of the time after begins here. * Evening Standard *A slim guide to understanding this virus and preparing ourselves for what comes next... Taking a breather from bewildering statistics and terrible tales of contagion to read Giordano's book was a jolt of brevity and simplicity... Giordano's short book takes concepts that have been dancing away in our minds, just out of reach, and lines them up neatly. * The Times *The stark and poetic prose of Paolo Giordano's essay How Contagion Works conveys the existential angst of an Italian intellectual as he comes to terms with quarantine: the vulnerabilities, missed opportunities, loneliness, fear of annihilation and the realisation that humanity's supporting structures are 'a house of cards'. * Spectator *'Potent and original' * Sunday Times *The urgency behind Giordano's book is of a different kind, stemming more from the need to preserve the present than to explain it... Much like Sigmund Freud wrote down his dreams when he woke, before they faded, Giordano sought to document, in real time, his experience of the pandemic. * New York Times *Urgent, powerful writing... I could have folded the corner on every page. * John Sutherland, author of CROSSING THE LINE *A timely, vital and inspiring read. * Andrea Wulf, author of THE INVENTION OF NATURE *Paolo Giordano's HOW CONTAGION WORKS is a lodestar for all of us seeking to find our way through this pandemic. Giordano, a mathematician, seamlessly combines lyrical prose and epidemiologic concepts in a clear and compassionate way, recalling at times the work of Jorge Luis Borges. HOW CONTAGION WORKS illuminates a clear and calm path forward as we navigate this strange new world. * Dan Werb, author of CITY OF OMENS *Brilliant...[Giordano] urges us to be kind and see the pandemic not as an accident or a scourge, but as foreseeable, andproof of how our world has become inextricably interconnected. The outbreak's origins reside with us, the planet's most invasive species * NEW SCIENTIST *

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